It’s time for #6 Degrees. Anyone can play, it’s fun and easy. And fascinating to see how people’s brains work at making connections. No rules, according to Kate at BAMFAB who runs the show.
As well as linking the books to each other by content or theme, I also want to make another connection – they all have a dwelling that is significant to the story.
The starter book this month is Room, the claustrophobic novel from Emma Donoghue. A woman and her son are in peril, and living in a small space, unable to leave. (Garden shed)
This is similar to the protagonist of Robyn Cadwallader’s first novel The Anchoress, except this woman consents to being locked into her small cave-like stone prison. It’s only once she’s there that we – and she – learns of a threat circling. (Cell)
Caves are very important in Clan of the Cave Bear series by Jean M. Aul. Stones are also significant – both in slingshots and amulets worn around the neck – and bears are important too, as one of the most powerful totems a clan and individual can have. (Caves)
There is a bear in Little House in the Big Woods by Laura Ingalls Wilder. The mother goes to the cow in its pen, to take it inside during a blizzard (my memory is shaky – I haven’t read it for so many years) and maybe it’s also night, but she pushes the cow and then realises it’s a bear. It’s one of the favourite family stories for Laura and her sisters. In a later book one of those sisters goes blind from scarlet fever. (Log cabin)
In Little Women by Louisa May Alcott, one of the sisters dies of scarlet fever. I confess I’ve never read Little Women but have seen the film and remember it as a bit simpering? The story of the March women has never been a reference for me but I like the idea of the father being away at war, and someone writing a novel about his experience (Geraldine Brooks, was it?) (Okay, this one is just a house)
In Cold Mountain (Charles Frazier) someone goes away to war and some of the most touching moments in that sentimental book/film are of Inman, the carpenter-deserter as he tries to make his way back to Ada, his love. (There is a scene of a house being raised, barn-style?)
Another story/film with Mountain in the title is Brokeback Mountain by Annie Proulx. Anyone who does not love this story has a cold stone heart and I cannot be friends with them. I must read the actual short story one day. (Tent)
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Yikes, I’ve never seen the Brokeback Mountain film nor read the book. Does this mean you won’t shout me that coffee now?
Not at all Lisa! If you haven’t *read* or *seen*, that’s fine. But if you have and don’t feel really sad and think it’s a good story, then no coffee (jokes!)
I just not very good at keeping up with Hollywood movies, that’s all..
Great chain Jenny – you’ve upped the ante with your double layer of links!
I loved Little House when I was little. I read the books and would watch the tv show every week. I must have got quite involved because virtually every week my mum would say “Are you going to cry? Do you think you should watch something that makes you so upset?” And every week I’d promise I’d be fine and then an hour later, would be sobbing over Laura’s latest plight. Last year I bought Laura’s autobiography (haven’t started it yet – it’s a HUGE book).
Little Women is lovely. The book isn’t simpering…perhaps when on film it’s played that way. Jo is wonderful character – strong, confident, a writer… A couple of years ago I read the Brooks novel about the father. It was brilliant (but all the better for having read Little Women).
Phew. I’ve seen Brokeback Mountain and thought it very, very good (think I even have a copy of the DVD somewhere because it came with one of my favourite films, Ice Storm).
The double layer linkage was just a coincidence! I also loved the Little House books when I was small. LOVED them, and the show. My memory of Little Women is not a good one but it’s vague so maybe I have it wrong. I should read it (only saw the Winona Ryder version, that might have been the problem right there. Her voice? Did you see Stranger Things? She was so weird in it. Meant to be, yes, but kind of wrong at the beginning, then was very good.) March didn’t appeal because… because I didn’t like People of the Book (but loved Year of Wonders, and Nine Parts of Desire). But maybe I should go there.
I was just joking about Brokeback, but then finished S-Town today – all very circular and coincidental in a way. The referencing. I’ve had a weird coupla days.
Oh I love this Jenny – the dwellings approach is a hoot. And, I’ve read four (or seen) of your six links. I know I should have read Clan of the Cave Bear, and my daughter has read all of the Little House of the Prairie books so I have osmosed them a bit!! Haha. I haven’t read the story of Brokeback Mountain, but I did love the movie and used Willie Nelson’s He was a friend of mine song from it at my uncle’s funeral. My uncle wasn’t gay but he liked country music, and the song seemed appropriate for a bachelor’s death.
And, your link to The anchoress is inspired. Love it!